‘He’s the truth’ – Carnell Tate’s Titans teammates praise early return on rookie WR: OTA practice observations
The Tennessee Titans were back on the practice field for OTAs and rookie WR Carnell Tate turned heads again. Will Levis, Cam Ward, and other notes
Wide receiver Carnell Tate has all eyeballs on him as the man attraction in the first two weeks of OTAs. The Tennessee Titans rookie fourth overall pick delivered again Friday with highlight catches, following last week’s three touchdown performance when media was in attendance.
Linebacker Cedric Gray was asked after practice his thoughts on the rookie making a strong first impression.
“The truth,” Gray started. “I told him after those plays ‘you cold’ – for real. I’m a huge fan. I’m on the Tate bandwagon right now.”
Carnell Tate’s hands are the Titans’ new cheat code
The plays Gray was referencing were very similar to each other, and both came from great throws from quarterback Cam Ward.
Tate ran a sideline route down the field and was able to pluck the ball out of the air while battling defenders who never stood a chance. One time, the Ohio State WR only needed one hand to do it.
The rep the Titans social team posted was in a full-team third down period. Tate drew the flag from the referee as cornerback Micah Robinson held his right arm. It didn’t matter. Tate’s 94th percentile hands for NFL WRs cleanly gathered the ball as he started down the sideline.
The second play was in the full-team two minute drill toward the end of Friday’s practice. Ward, needing a third down conversion as the clock was under one minute, went back to the same sideline as before, threw the ball up to 14, who went to high-point the ball over two defenders. First down.
Friday didn’t start clean for the rookie, either. Tate had two drops to start practice. I think that makes how he finished practice more impressive. He rebounded.
It’s only been two practices without pads that I’ve seen of Tate. But his teammates are bought in. Cam Ward looks to him often.
Try to “keep your powder dry” as the late Titans Radio legend Dave McGinnis would say.
Will Levis struggles as QBs had up and down Friday
Not a great week for Titans back up QB Will Levis.
Friday he threw two interceptions. Both bad. One on an attempted screen pass to rookie RB Nick Singleton, picked off by defensive lineman Soloman Thomas and returned for a TD. The second INT was a deep ball that looked more like a punt, hanging in the air. Levis could have thrown another pick, but it was a pass breakup, when it should have been a deep TD pass to undrafted receiver Tyren Montgomery.
Levis was not good, but you could say Ward wasn’t as sharp either. The Titans starting QB didn’t turn the ball over, but he also didn’t get his unit into the end zone like he did a week ago.
Reserve QB Hendon Hooker was present at practice and didn’t stand out much. Free agent signing Mitch Trubisky was not in attendance again this week.
Veterans present Friday after being out last week
Several Titans veterans were back on the practice field after missing last Thursday’s open session, for various valid reasons.
The receiver group was full with the return of Calvin Ridley, Elic Ayomanor, and Chim Dike. Dike was the only one of the three who took reps after individual period.
Left tackle Dan Moore was back in his usual spot. New cornerback Cor’Dale Flott was seen on the sideline but not participating.
Nick Singleton gets first work after foot surgery
The Titans fifth round pick had a Jones fracture surgery after his injury suffered at the Senior Bowl in late January.
Last week Singleton was rehabbing on a side field. Friday, Saleh told media before practice that he would get a few reps, which he did. Nothing too eventful happened when he had the ball. Levis’ screen pick six was intended for him, but it’s unsure if he had any fault in the mistake.
Near the end of practice Singleton would been seen randomly sprinting down the sideline like he was Mario on Super Star speed. Foot looked pretty solid to me. I had this piece earlier in the week before Friday’s practice.
The Titans are not scheduled to have another open OTA practice to media unit June 11.